Obesity Counseling by Pediatric Health Professionals: An Assessment Using Nationally Representative Data

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-0596
• Publication Date: 2012-06-05T09:47:46Z
• Authors: Lan Liang; Chad Meyerhoefer; Justin Wang
• Keywords: Odds; Health Professionals

Examine the rate of screening for adolescent overweight and obesity by pediatric health care professionals provision advice on healthy eating physical activity.Our sample contains adolescents 11 to 17 years old (6911 girls 6970 boys) from 2001-2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey who reported having at least 1 provider visit in previous 12 months. Using logistic regression, we investigated factors associated with whether parents that their children were weighed measured they or received counseling habits activity. All models estimated separately gender.Forty-seven percent 44% boys visited a advised eat healthy, 36% exercise more. Obese both more likely be (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10, P < .001 OR 1.70, .001) (OR 2.37, 1.90, than have normal weight. However, counseled much lower those obese. Adolescents receive such lived northeast, higher-income households, had some college education, usual source medical care.Greater efforts should made incorporate guidelines childhood into clinical practice.